President-elect Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he will not extend cabinet invitations to former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo or former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley as he prepares to form his incoming administration.

Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post shortly after 6 p.m., noting his appreciation for their past service but indicating a decision to move in a new direction.

“I will not be inviting former Ambassador Nikki Haley, or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to join the Trump Administration, which is currently in formation,” Trump wrote. “I very much enjoyed and appreciated working with them previously, and would like to thank them for their service to our Country.”

BREAKING: President Trump clarifies that he will not be inviting Amb Nikki Haley and Sec Mike Pompeo into his next administration. pic.twitter.com/ZypWqhGr5v

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) November 9, 2024

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The decision follows a period of notable tension and public criticism from both Pompeo and Haley toward Trump.

Pompeo, who served as Trump’s Secretary of State from 2018 to 2021, has openly criticized Trump since leaving the White House.

In 2023, Pompeo questioned Trump’s conservative credentials, stating that Trump was not a true conservative leader and suggesting he could perform better in the role.

Following disappointing Republican results in the 2022 midterms, Pompeo also took a jab at Trump’s “you’re gonna get tired of winning” slogan.

We were told we’d get tired of winning. But I’m tired of losing.

And so are most Republicans.

— Mike Pompeo (@mikepompeo) November 18, 2022

Additionally, Pompeo appeared to distance himself from Trump after special prosecutor Jack Smith’s indictment of the former president in the classified documents case.

Haley, who served as U.N. Ambassador from 2017 to 2018, has also been a vocal critic of Trump, especially during the 2024 Republican primary, where she ran against him for the nomination.

During her campaign, Haley argued that Trump would struggle to defeat Joe Biden, a stance that placed her at odds with Trump’s base.

Her campaign drew support from establishment donors across the political spectrum, including backing from Koch network affiliates and Democratic megadonor Reid Hoffman, who has previously been linked to controversial figures, including Jeffrey Epstein, according to reports from the Daily Caller News Foundation.

Trump’s decision to exclude both Pompeo and Haley reflects his intent to form a cabinet focused on loyalty to his administration and his policy agenda.

Trump is signaling a break from past cabinet members who have publicly criticized his actions or decisions.

This choice aligns with his recent pledge to bring in voices that support his vision and reinforce his administration’s core principles.

In a notable shift, Trump has publicly expressed interest in involving Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in his administration, leaving the door open for Kennedy to join in “whatever capacity he would like.”

BREAKING: Donald Trump Jr. confirms that the Trump camp does intend to honor promises made to RFK Jr., ensuring that he will be part of the second Trump administration in whatever capacity he would like.

— Patrick Webb (@RealPatrickWebb) November 9, 2024

Kennedy, who has been critical of Pompeo in the past, previously remarked that Pompeo’s foreign policy approach was “the most bellicose and belligerent militarized foreign policy of any individual in our country.”

RFK Jr. at Las Vegas rally: “President Trump said he was going to drain the swamp, but then he brought John Bolton in to run the NSA, who’s like the template for swamp creatures.

He brought Mike Pompeo in to run the State Department, who has the most bellicose and belligerent… pic.twitter.com/l2KII8qDrq

— Holden Culotta (@Holden_Culotta) February 5, 2024

The announcement indicates Trump’s strategy of leaning toward figures aligned with his current policy goals as he prepares to reenter the White House.

While details of the cabinet lineup remain forthcoming, Trump’s decisions thus far suggest a significant shift away from his prior administration’s roster, focusing on individuals who align closely with his perspective on foreign policy, government reform, and conservative priorities.

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